commiecat has answered, and I think you'll get better advice from him of course than me! :-) I only use Eucalyptus oil because that was what I had in the house; and I believe it has antiseptic qualities; it's a very light oil, possibly even too light. Seems a lot of guys use Camellia oil. I may buy some soon :-) I dry my blade on a dry bath towel (I don't strop after shaving), then wipe the blade and the scales and between the scales with the oil. I myself don't want to use the strop to dry the razor; simply because I want as little moisture on the strop as possible; the damp bathroom where it lives is damp enough. Not sure of any LOGICAL reason behind that thought, just thinking a damp strop wouldn't be a good think; might be completely silly idea, really?